17.Between the Moon and You

17. Between the Moon and You

“How dare he… son of a…”

Liam and I are supposed to take a moment to talk alone. We’re still out on Bill’s front porch. Bill has gone inside to call his wife so he can invent an errand to keep her out of the house longer.

Liam is talking, just not to me.

"What a fucking idiot," he grumbles, as he paces back and forth in the narrow space the small porch provides.

"Are you okay?" I ask, studying the tension that ripples through his broad shoulders.

"Not really. "

"Talk to me."

"I can't."

With his clenched jaw and fists balled up so tight his knuckles are white, he shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. He’s too furious at his lousy brother-in-law to stop and think. I jump in front of him, cutting off his path and forcing him to face me.

"I can't talk about this," he says. "We have very little time to get ourselves together and sort this out. If I stop to talk or breathe, I’m afraid I’m going to start screaming and not stop, or start punching my brother-in-law and not stop, which won't help."

I manage to crack a smile. "I wouldn't fight too hard to pry you off Bill, at least not for the first couple blows."

“What a nightmare,” Liam grumbles. “What a fucking mess. Toby could be hurt. You could have been hurt. I’m so fucking pissed—”

“And scared,” I add quietly.

"Terrified,” he confirms without missing a beat. “If anything happens to my nephew…"

Carefully, I come closer and lift my arms, wrapping them around his stiff frame. My head rests on his shoulder, and I hold on tightly. Liam is rigid in the embrace for a few long seconds before he exhales and melts against me. I hold him and offer wordless comfort until he pulls himself together.

That was the easy part.

“We don’t have much time,” I say. “So we shouldn’t waste time arguing about whether I should go with you. I should just go with you. ”

Liam becomes tense again. “Let Bill and I go alone.”

“Is that an order?”

“No,” he sighs. “Just a very strongly worded suggestion.”

I smile with grim satisfaction, already expecting an answer like that and knowing my response. “Then I refuse.”

A muscle in his jaw ticks. It looks like he wants to pace again. He glances away towards the street. I wonder what Bill’s neighbors must think of the two tense angry men having a whispered argument under his porch light.

Liam is watching the faint slant of moonlight illuminating the grass in Bill’s front yard. Without thought, he drifts over there and stands in the moonlight, taking strength from his element. I follow more slowly.

“The note said to come alone,” he reminds me. “They’re expecting Bill and me, that’s who they think stole from them.”

"These are dragons we’re talking about. One more wizard against an entire horde still isn't great odds."

"Razor saw you in action. Can't imagine they'll be happy if you show up too. You know I'm right."

Anger flares within me, burning hotter than any dragon's fire. "Doesn't mean I need to like any of this! You shouldn't have to go with Bill as your only ally. You know I'm right about that. "

"Oliver, it's bad enough Bill put his own son in danger. And you—"

"I'm already involved," I cut him off.

"I know. Much as I hate to say it, Bill's right." The way his face twists into disgust would be funny at another time. “Actually, you are right.”

"Me?"

"You agreed with him about why going to the cops isn't ideal. Dragons prefer to settle things themselves and could see going to the cops as cheating. If we can restore what was taken, this mess should work itself out. But it's risky."

"Right, so it's better to have another wizard—"

"If we aren't successful, someone needs to be here. We can try it the dragon’s way, but if we fail, you go to the police."

I want nothing more than to be by his side, to face this threat together. He’s helped me so much. I just want to do the same. “You don’t need to protect me.”

“But I want to.” The moonlight reflects in his blue eyes, but there's no magical glow, only fear and concern for me shining through. "Not an order," he murmurs. "Just...please."

I can see how much it means to him that I stay safe. And unfortunately, it makes some sense. This is an insurance policy, a deterrent against the dragons trying anything because I can sound the alarm in case something goes wrong…

I’d still rather be there, but there’s no point arguing anymore. I don’t think he’s going to take me with him. So where does that leave us? Either he goes without me or neither of us goes. But Liam can’t stay behind. He won’t, not with Toby in trouble.

Dammit.

“Alright,” I whisper. “I’ll stay behind.”

“Thank you, Oliver. This is the right decision.”

I hope so.

Now what? Well… we talked. We agreed on a plan. Guess that’s that. As we stand outside under the moon’s light, it almost feels appropriate to say more. Confess my feelings under the watchful care of the element Liam is connected to.

The timing and everything else going on makes this inappropriate, but… this is one of those times where it’s best not to leave anything unsaid.

"This isn’t how I imagined saying something, but I need to tell you something. Liam, I want more after this moon cycle.”

The statement hangs in the air. He looks at me strangely, and I have no idea what’s going through his mind. “More. What do you mean by that?”

Uh, not the response I expected. “What do you mean what do I mean?”

“More of what? More sex, more moon cycles, is that all?”

"No, it's..." I rake a hand through my hair. "Getting my magic in line was part of what drew me to you, but it’s more than that. I didn't think I deserved any magic or kindness, but you helped me see that my family's sins aren't my own. You helped me with my guilt."

Liam's strong hand cups my cheek, his thumb brushing my skin. "Oliver, you didn't do anything wrong."

"Neither did you. And yet you're going to pay your brother-in-law's debt even though he's a gigantic ass."

He shakes his head. "That doesn't make me noble. There's no other choice with Toby in danger."

No way. This is a big deal. He can’t pretend he’s nothing special.

"Liam, you didn't just help my powers or introduce me to some fantastic sex. You supported me through the most difficult time of my life. No matter what you say, you're a total gentleman. You're caring and sweet and respectful."

A blush heats my cheeks, but I press on, needing him to know. "Whenever the, um, perverted side of you comes out in the bedroom, I still have no doubt I can trust you. I know I'm safe with you." I lay a palm on his chest, feeling the strong thud of his heartbeat. "So, I want more time and sex, yes, but most of all, I need more of you.”

The second before he responds seems to stretch out forever. Then a beautiful smile takes over Liam's face, his dimples appearing and eyes crinkling at the corners. "I need more than a month with you too."

"Really?" I whisper .

"Given what was going on in your life, I didn't want to pressure you or presume this was more than a one-time occurrence. I told myself to just enjoy our month together. But in my head, I was always hoping… I just wasn't sure you'd feel like seeing me again.”

"What?" I gape at him. "You were worried I wouldn't like you? That's insane. You're amazing."

He glances away, a rare moment of vulnerability from my dominant wizard. "We come from different worlds, Oliver. I'm over a decade older than you and how I use my powers isn't exactly respected in the magical community. I'm just a dirty old man who likes denying you so long you start crying."

"You're not an old—" My protest dies on my lips as his words sink in. "Wait, do I cry? Have I been crying this whole time?" Heat floods my cheeks. "No, don't answer that, it's so embarrassing."

"It's very attractive, if you ask me." Liam's thumb traces the line of my jaw, tilting my face up to meet his heated gaze.

"You really want more?" I whisper, hardly daring to believe it.

"Yes," he breathes, resting his forehead against mine.

"You want to give me more? Like, like a relationship? "

"Yeah. How much more do you want? You can have it all. Take everything. It's all yours. I'm all yours."

I clutch at his shoulders, dizzy with desire and disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Is it not obvious I'm wrapped around your finger?" Liam chuckles, low and deep. It rumbles through his chest pressed to mine.

"Think it's more the other way around," I mumble, burying my face in the crook of his neck.

"Nope, you’re wrong. I spend basically all my time thinking about how to give you nice things and be so good to you. And when I'm not doing that, I'm thinking about all the ways I want to wreck you and turn you into a begging, blushing mess."

A whimper escapes me at his words, electricity zinging down my spine. "Oh." The single syllable is all I can manage.

"So in case it's not clear, I'd like to share everything with you."

Liam seals his promise with a tender kiss. It's unhurried and sweet, so different from the desperate clash of lips and teeth and tongue I'm used to. He explores my mouth almost reverently as his fingers thread through my hair. Though the longer it goes on, it still manages to turn my knees to mush.

I pour everything I feel into the kiss - all my longing and my joy. The future may be uncertain, but here under the moonlight with Liam's strong arms around me, I dare to hope.

He promised me everything. Once we get through this, I plan to hold him to it.